7 Beach Engagement Photos to Inspire You (+ Bonus Tips!)

Elopement Planning, Wedding Planning

Beach engagement photos are genuinely some of the most breathtaking pictures that you can get taken with your soon-to-be spouse! Whether your beachy photos are taken in Michigan or anywhere else in the world, these photos will be ones to remember.

As a wedding photographer, I’ve been lucky enough to take many beautiful beach engagement pictures with amazing couples over the years. From winter beachy pictures to those taken on an overcast afternoon, every one of the engagement sessions turned out absolutely breathtaking, (scroll to see what I mean!).

Keep reading to check out some beach engagement photos that will inspire you!

Why have beach engagement photos?

couple hugging and kissing on the beach at sunset

Engagement photos by the beach can truly be as casual or elegant as you want them to be. Maybe you’d prefer to have casual beach engagement photos while having fun near the water’s edge or maybe even jumping into it.

Or, you might prefer to get a little dressed up and have your photos taken at sunset for a more elegant and whimsical feel.

No matter your style, a beach engagement shoot is truly one-of-a-kind and can be incredibly memorable, especially if the beach has a significant meaning to you and your boo.

Tips for Beautiful Engagement Photos by the Beach

Before we dive into some inspirational engagement photos taken on the beach, let’s chat about some tips!

Embrace the Water (& Your Other Surroundings!)

couple holding hands and walking into the water on a beach

One of the ways to make sure that you get amazing beach engagement photos is to really embrace your surroundings. Don’t be scared to dip your toes in the water, splash the water at your partner, or even jump all the way in.

By engaging with the nature that surrounds you, you’re able to get some great action pictures. Plus, if you’re camera shy (which I’ll help you with!), you’ll find yourself feeling a bit more natural and comfortable when playing with the water or sitting on a log with your partner instead of just standing in front of the camera.

Think About the Time of Day

couple sitting on the beach about to kiss at sunset

Truthfully, any time of day works perfectly for engagement photos at the beach, so it’s truly up to you if you have a preference. Throughout the galleries and inspirational photos below, you’ll see a selection of photos at all different times and seasons, which may help you decide.

Some popular times to take photos include sunrise, blue hour, and sunset. Note that these times can look completely different in summer versus winter, so that’s something to take into account while you’re deciding what time of day and year you’d like your photos taken. And keep in mind your location when choosing a sunrise or a sunset session!

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west so knowing your location first can help you decide on the time if you’re going for golden hour light. If you have trouble choosing, your photographer (me!) would be more than happy to help you.

Find the Perfect Photographer

couple playing and chasing each other on the edge of the water

Be sure to look for a photographer who can capture the vision that you have for your engagement photos. Many photographers specialize in a different type of photography, so see if you can find one that has beach photographs within their portfolio, or at least find one that shoots in a style that you love.

If you are still on the hunt for the perfect photographer and you want engagement beach photos, I’d love to work with you! While the photos below are all in Michigan, I do travel. In fact, my bags are already packed and I’ll never say no to jumping in the water to get the perfect shot!

Dress to Impress, Not to Blend In

couple walking towards each other at the water's edge

When choosing your outfit for your engagement beach pictures, be sure to pick outfits that don’t blend in with your background. For instance, if you are having your pictures taken in winter, you won’t want to dress in white, because you’ll blend into the snow.

Try to steer clear of blues, because they’ll easily mix too easily with the background. Instead, try to think of complementary colors to blue that could pop, like yellow or red while staying away from neon or overly vibrant colors. Neutral colors always work very well at the beach (and in any engagement session).

Bring the Essentials

man with his arms around a woman kissing her head on the beach

Since your session will be outdoors near the water, be sure to pack everything you’ll need for your trip. One of the top things to bring to your session is sunscreen. You may not realize it, but even on a cloudy day, sunscreen is a must.

If you’ll be getting into the water at all, it may also be a good idea to pack a towel and some slip-on shoes, like sandals, especially with the sand.

6 Beach Engagement Sessions to Inspire You

Now onto the fun part: some past engagement beach pictures that I’ve been lucky to take throughout Michigan. Each of these is incredibly different, from sessions done at sunset to even some taken right before a giant thunderstorm.

Overcast Afternoon in Traverse City, Michigan

man with his arms around a woman holding her up on the water's edge

couple walking on pier with their arms around each other

First is this fun beach engagement photo shoot in Traverse City, Michigan, with Carrie and Jeff. What’s so beautiful about their shoot is that it’s genuinely a bit more casual but still showcases the fun side of their relationship.

Their session is truly proof that it doesn’t matter what the weather is like for beautiful beach engagement pics. In fact, the weather was extremely overcast during the early afternoon while we took the photos, and they came out perfect. I especially love the pop of Jeff’s rust shirt against the gray skies and water.

Moody Evening Session in Manistee, Michigan & Silver Lake Sand Dunes

couple with their arms around each other smiling and laughing

couple holding each other's faces and laughing

This moody evening session was taken in both Manistee, Michigan, and at the nearby Silver Lake Sand Dunes with Ellen and Alex. It was taken right before a giant thunderstorm that was looming in the distance, which is why the photos ended up being so moody!

Similar to Carrie and Jeff’s session, this one resulted in great casual beach engagement photos. They wore comfortable, everyday clothing, which allowed them to truly be themselves in their photos.

Cabin Beauty at Sunrise in Lexington, Michigan

Let’s be honest: one of the most beautiful times to be near the beach is at sunrise! For Ashley and Jack’s beach engagement photoshoot, we headed to their family cabin on the east side of Michigan along Lake Huron to take beautiful photos as the sun rose above the water.

This resulted in a very serene and peaceful session with photos that perfectly showcased the love between the couple. Plus, the colors in the sky as they reflect on the water made for an entirely epic backdrop. Trust me when I say sunrise is always worth waking up early for!

Blue Hour Engagement in Manistee, Michigan

couple sitting on a blanket at the beach kissing

couple standing in shallow water on the beach

One of the best times to take engagement photos on a west-facing beach is during blue hour. We call the few minutes after sunset when there’s still a glow of light in the skies, but the golden colors of the sun turn to blues and purples.

Just take a look at this session in Manistee, Michigan, with Sydney and John! These photos have a great blue hue that really helps the red dress pop, creating a complementary juxtaposition.

As the sun started to set, we were also able to photograph the sky changing colors in the backdrop! This resulted in moody images filled with shadows, which isn’t something you’d generally expect for photos at the beach.

Sunset Shoot in Ludington, Michigan

man sitting on the beach with woman laying down on his lap at sunset

couple sitting on the water's edge kissing

Gen and Kevin’s sunset beach engagement photos were taken for their anniversary at an Airbnb in Ludington, Michigan! Because they were taken as the sun was setting, the colors in the images are incredibly breathtaking.

This photoshoot has a casual touch, but the couple had a lot of fun and even hopped into the water for some of the images! There are also quite a few detailed beach photos, which can be a fun way to showcase the beauty of the location.

Belle Isle Beach in Detroit, Michigan

couple sitting on a rock next to each other looking at each other on the beach

couple with their arms around each other walking down the beach

A public park can be the perfect place to take beach engagement photography, as proven by Hannah and Matt’s photos on Belle Isle Beach in Detroit, Michigan. The location was incredibly tranquil, and they decided to take the pictures in a bit more of an elegant direction with their outfits!

Going to Belle Isle also meant the beach was only one of several different locations in one shoot. A public waterfront park can be a great compromise if you’re looking for both a more beachy and more green or urban setting.

Hannah and Matt’s beach engagement photos had such a unique backdrop as well, with the city skyline set against the water. They had a lot of fun interacting with the location, such as by sitting on logs near the water’s edge.

Winter Wonderland in Lexington, Michigan

couple holding hands walking along snow covered beach

couple hugging each other and kissing on a snowy beach

Winter beach engagement photos are absolutely breathtaking. Just check out these engagement pictures in the snow for Sam and Holden in Lexington, Michigan! At first glance, you may not even be able to tell they’re near the water, but that just makes these images even more one-of-a-kind.

Despite the cold weather and snow, Sam and Holden made the location seem cozy with their interactions and warm jackets.

This post was all about inspirational beach engagement photos as well as some bonus tips! If you’re looking to get your own engagement photos taken along the beach, fill out my contact form.

Whether along the Great Lakes or along the Atlantic Ocean, I’d love to connect and photograph your engagement!